"D" the Ranter is Colorado's #1 Multi-sport MLBlogger. The Rant is written from a fan's perspective and you can count on "D" to tell you exactly how it is. Tried and Tested…There's a reason the Rant kicks ass in Colorado.

Results tagged ‘ Rox Addict ’

Yankees vs Rockies Game 1

I didn’t feel like I had great pictures for this game so I was going to skip this particular blog entry. However this was a Rockies win, the only one of the series and the only one in a while. Plus how often are the Skankees in town?

Although I was shut-out for BP again…. I felt like BP was as it should be. Baseballs flying everywhere and folks I know catch’n ’em. I was witness to the Rox Addict snagg’n his first two of the season while surrounded by Yankee fans gloves.

Best thing about BP is it wasn’t raining…Yet.

I watched Jersey Geoff spring into action and snag Mariano Rivera’s autograph while in left field.

I was also witness to the end result of an overly eager ball hawk that decided it was a good idea to crowd Jersey Geoff. A BP ground rule double bounced off the warning track then off of a glove and tagged that eager ball hawk right in the eye. (He’s OK).

Folks, that’s how you keep an eye out for the ball🙂

With Joe Girardi (Skankees Manager and the Rockies first catcher) in town it was time for a group pic. Four old Rockies pretty much the same age as me. Prize for best hair hands down goes to Vinny Castilla.

Think these fellas have a few stories to tell?

I hung out with the Rox Addict most of this game, sitting just under the second level along the first baseline taking pictures and trying keep my camera dry.

It started raining early on and never stopped. Here’s my buddy “Big B” and his lady center picture toughing it out in the pavilion.

Remember this guy? Chris Nelson a Yankee!…Oh well at least he’ll get to play there.

Anyone else think Ichiro’s eyebrows look tattooed on? This dude is still one helluva player despite the botched make-up.

Quote from Walt Weiss about Jorge: “Jorge gave up three singles — that’s a big-time performance,” Weiss said. “It’s nice to see one of our starters go out there and pitch like he did. If we get good starting pitching like we have for the most part this year, we’re going to win games.”

LOL

As per usual, weather became an issue.

Cargo blasts a homer to center field and scores Rutledge…2-0 Rockies.

Quote from Cargo: “I won’t lie — I was a little angry the whole game,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve been playing in a lot of bad weather, in a lot of bad situations, but we’ve still got to go out there and do our best.”

Well played Cargo!

I’m “D” the Ranter and give a lil props to the Rockies as this was their first shutout win at Coors Field since a 6-0 victory over the Cubs last Sept. 26.

I’ll be sitting front row of the pavilion May 16-18 for the Giants series here at Coors Field with my only goal being catching a game homer. See you there…”D”

If you’re looking for the Batting Practice report, cool pictures and play by play from the game or if you’re wondering what the autograph scene is like at Coors Field.

This Powerhouse of local Rockies MLBloggers has got you covered.

With no love here from the local Media or Rockies affiliate we have to promote ourselves. We don’t get paid we Blog because we love the Colorado Rockies and we use our blogs as an online diary detailing the game experience to share with other baseball fans.

The first bobble head game of the season and it’s a good one. You’d be hard pressed to find a Rockies fan who doesn’t love Eric Young.

EY has a place in Rockies franchise history that will last forever. Young hit the first Rockies home run at Mile High Stadium back in 1993.

What’s cool about that is EY wasn’t exactly known as a home run hitter.

Today was autograph Sunday as well. I was on the field and the only player to stop by my little area was Adam Ottavino. I didn’t have any pictures of Adam as of yet so he autographed a baseball for me.

Nice guy!

This is my friend Marianne aka R-Luv. She’s an original Rantic and it’s been a while since I’ve run into her at game. Good to see you R-Luv!!

The weather today was not too bad. Definitely not warm, but a long sleeve shirt or light jacket was plenty.

Eric Young was present on his bobble head day. His youngest son threw out the first pitch to his older brother Eric Young Jr. I think the world of both EY’s and for me this reunion was just fun to watch. Eric Young and Eric Young Jr. are both fan friendly and about as humble as they come.

Nice pitch from the lil guy known as “The Mayor”.

This was Game 3 of a series in which the Rockies won the first two.

Juan Nicasio starting pitcher.

I love following foul and home runs baseballs into the crowd. Peoples expressions are priceless.

Didn’t run into the Rox Addict all game, but did find him doing his thing when I was cropping a picture.

Ever wonder who the Jackass is who starts “The Wave” when the Rockies are batting? It’s this guy below, if you see him you have my permission to smack him in the head.

My favorite alien!

This is Dan’s friend Brian catching Tulo’s homer on the bounce.

Congrats brotha, you’ve just experienced what I’ve yet to.

D-Backs come from behind in the 9th, score two runs and the Rockies lose this one 5-4 but take the Series.

Let’s just say it’s been a long winter and if you live in Colorado, …it ain’t over yet.

Colorado does Opening Day right. Right in the fact that you don’t need a ticket to the game to enjoy the festivities, just show up early ready to party. The weather was 70 degrees and perfect for April baseball.

The day started out with Douglas’s breakfast at the 20th St Cafe as it has for the last few Opening Days. In attendance were, Jersey Geoff, Mike the Rox Addict…

Fran and Robert.

Our host Douglas, Hunter and yours truly. On an extremely cool note, I only eat at the 20th St. Cafe once or twice a year and the waitress remembered what my breakfast order was.

That’s impressive!

Once we were full it was time to wander. Although there were a lot of folks hang’n around Coors Field, this OD seemed a bit mellower than ones I’ve attended in the past. Still there was lots going on.

Hunter and I stopped by and checked out my favorite local Artist Kyle Banister. Kyle had a primo spot for his art and was working on the Rockies 20th Anniversary logo in liquid chalk.🙂

Here’s Kyle Banister, Laura Rector, Eric Matelski working hard.

Here it is finished… WOW!!

Kyle’s work always pops out at you. His link is on my sidebar.

Stilt Man out harassing some lady trying to read a book?

Hunter and I met up with long time Rockies employee and Rant follower Missy. 15 years with the Rockies right Missy?

As we walked by the 850 KOA booth I noticed Goose Gossage and David Nied getting interviewed by Mike Rosin.

I have Goose’s autograph already but I was carrying a poster I wanted the “Nied for Speed” David Nied to sign. We waited around for a bit, but I figured I’d have better luck inside on Sunday acquiring Nied’s autograph.

Batting practice was taking place and as Hunter and I entered the pavilion a hit baseball had just rolled up to the wall. Matt Belisle picked it up, looked up and saw Hunter standing there and tossed it to him. Within a minute of entering the stadium Hunter had the first BP ball of the regular season.

Hunter managed to snag one more and his old man came up empty for Opening Day.

Before BP ended I met up with my a friend and co-worker Kevin and his daughter Sam. This was their first Opening day at Coors and you could tell they were happy to be there just soaking everything in.

Seemed like there were fewer balloons this year?

Ceremonial first pitch.

Gonna be a fun season seeing these guys around, it feels like old times.

I like the fact that Dante has the boys hitt’n good so far.

Props to Cargo for staying healthy last year…Another Gold Glove!

Damn that thing is shiny!

This set of conjoined twins is known as the Hellowitzki.

First pitch of the game.

Cargo showing you why he got the shiny glove.

WTF?

Look far left in the front row you can see Jersey Geoff in the mix.

This Canadian earned his bacon today.

Dex seconds before a home run blast to right field.

Dex’s home run ball just before it lands.

Dex gett’n some luv from the dugout. You can see John Elway and Dick Monfort above the dugout.

Wait a minute, the entire stadium is celebrating Dex’s home run and Elway is Texting?

Sorry John..I’m a huge fan but today you are the:

“Dude texting with TV seats” fan of the game.

Props to your girl though, she knows what time it is🙂

Watch your back “Baby Bull”!

Rockies beat the Padres in their Home Opener…5-2

Folks that’s three in row. The best the Rockies did last season was three in a row.

I’m extremely impressed with the Rockies pitching and hitting so far.

This team is loaded with talent, the question is: Is this the year we stay healthy and a new set of “Blake Street Bad-Asses” is born?

I’m “D” the Bad Ass Ranter….We need some attitude to go along with this altitude.

This was my first time visiting the Ranch(home to the Dodgers and White Sox). As far as spring training facilities go this one is a real gem. It’s beautifully laid out with little ponds and walkways everywhere.

We were there on a Monday and the back fields were almost deserted.

I wandered around, enjoying the early morning sun, reflecting on the past few days and thinking about life in general. How many spring training facilities can you get enough peace and quiet to actually relax and ponder shit?

While I was “Zone’n” I noticed some players gathering in the outfield of one of the practice fields. I watched as one of the coaches started hitting pop-flys right up against the outfield wall and players were jumping trying to catch them and keep ’em from going over the fence. I hurried over to where the balls were going over the fence and I noticed it was just me there. For a few short minutes it was yours truely catching the baseballs that the minor league players couldn’t snag. Eventually folks saw me having the time of my life and decided to join.

All in all probably 25 baseballs were hit out.

As soon as that drill was finished the minor leaguers started their batting practice. Sitt’n with seven baseballs already I was having a great day. BP was a bit more crowded but I manged to catch one on the bounce and one on the fly preventing a bystander from getting hit in the face with a home run ball.

Dude didn’t even say thank you….Dick

Folks, this place is special even if it is enemy territory.

Today wound up being not only a good day for baseballs but it was a great day for autographs.

I managed to get Todd Helton to sign my baseball, Eric Young Jr to sign a picture, and Skipper Walt Weiss signed my 1993 photo ball of him.

Plus, Dante signed a baseball card the Rox Addict hooked me up with.

Check out this motley autograph Crue..Left to Right, James, Eric, and Mike the Rox Addict.

James is the guy who made the “Helmer is my Homeboy” T-Shirts. Maybe it’s time for some Ranter shirts?

Anyone interested?

I don’t have many of these…Here’s Tulo smiling.

The Rockies lose this one to the White Sox. Matter of fact, the Rockies lost every game we saw them play the week we were in Arizona except for when they played the USA WBC team.

I have no idea what we’re in for this season as far as the Rockies go.

I’m “D” the Ranter…I’d like to thank the Rox Addict for splitt’n the costs and being good company.

It was fun, but this year’s trip is done. 20 days till the first home game at Coors Field!

It’s a fresh start each year with new strategies, new people and new attitudes.

Living in the mountains makes the baseball off-season seriously drag. Don’t get me wrong I love my snow (and my Broncos). Truthfully, for me winter is just the space between the end of one baseball season and the start of another one.

I crave variety. The Cactus League is full just that.

Each little Spring Training facility is a small taste of another team. I love the Rockies, but baseball is history and I’m a sponge when I’m down in Cactus League Country. Only true baseball fans make the yearly trek to Spring Training each year to watch and support their team.

Yes the games are meaningless, but these are fans that need this little dose of baseball to get them through till Opening Day. I for one am guilty as charged. I feel if I didn’t have my yearly trip to Phoenix to bask in the sun, chase baseballs, harass players, eat a years worth of In n Out burgers in a week, act like a fool and bump into Rantics I’d implode.

As sure as the brown hairs in my beard are being replaced by white ones, the Rox Addict and I will be wandering the Phoenix area in search of baseball history, memories and souvenirs one short week from now.

Next entry for me will be Wednesday March 6th when the Rox Addict and I land in Phoenix.

For some of us, there is no regular season without a trip south just to check things out.

Knowing that sometime in March I’ll be traipsing through the backfield at some team’s facility scouring for baseballs or innocently(wink wink) wandering into a restricted area fill my winter time thoughts.

I know it will be warm and I’ll be wearing shorts, sunglasses and sport’n my trademark Ranter hat.

Plus Arizona has In and Out Burger joints :)…Yeah!

Daydreaming about spring training is what gets me through the Colorado winter. I know for a fact I’m not the only one who daydreams about the southwest sun and cacti.

Rantics, I see your FACEBOOK posts🙂

Spring Training for the players is intense at times but for me it’s how I decompress from life. I’ve stopped setting goals for myself and I plan to focus on having a good time. Setting goals creates pressure and as I just mentioned that’s not what I’m shooting for. The goal if any is to relax, have fun, hang with baseball friends, make some new friends, catch some baseballs, watch 3 World Baseball Classic games, wander the back fields of random spring training facilities, and take LOTS of pictures.

Then tell you all about it because that’s what the Number #1 Rockies MLBlogger for the last 6 years does🙂

As far as autographs go I plan to bring some of my pictures along and hopefully get a few of my favorites signed. I have no idea of what to get autographed at the WBC??

Maybe a WBC bat or jersey?

I feel like I crank out some of my best blogs during Spring Training. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m relaxed or because I’m more focused by not being distracted by my normal routine?

I guess stuff is just more fun to write about when you had a blast doing it.

Same as last year I’ll be hang’n with my partner in crime the Rox Addict and there’s usually never a dull moment with us two exploring a ballpark or a restricted area🙂

We’re sort of a Dynamic Rockies Blogging Duo of sorts.

This year will be my 6th year attending Spring Training in Arizona. So in tribute to that here are some links and a few pictures from my Spring Training adventures in years past.

The Mobile Blogging Unit and Hi Corbett Field. I loved that place.(2009).

As a kid some of my fondest memories were going to hockey games with my pops. We had a local farm team and my thing was I liked to try and snag a puck or two when I was there. This was way before they used nets and pucks would often fly into the stands and kids would scramble for them. I guess chasing baseballs takes me back to a happy place in my childhood.

We all need something like that.

I’m “D” the Ranter

Spring Training brings out the kid in me. Six weeks till I get to play.

On my drive into the city this morning I was staring at a beaufiful orange Colorado sunrise and I was thinking about how much things can change from the beginning of a season to the end of it.

For me this season started with the loss of Tom Helmer as part of the Poot Warts team. That one decision probably affected my season more than anything else. For a lot of us Helmer was the face of the Rockies, much more so than Tulowitzki.

Poot Warts claimed they were about the fan..Helmer was our connection to Poot Warts.

Helmer was all about the fans because he himself is a passionate fan who would often let is show.

For the record I have no issues with the rest of the Poot Warts team. In fact they’re a solid group of individuals who I feel for the most part do a bang-up job. Marc Stout “gets it” in my opinion. He’s approachable and he’s close with his fan base.

I’ve never been Anti-Joel Klatt, just extremely Pro-Helmer.

Joel graciously offered to hold my “Bring Back Helmer” sign when we did our protest pre-game at the Rockies last home game of the season. When I actually called Joel on it he said “No” and was kind of a Dick about it but I realize the situation was slightly uncomfortable and I figured I’d give him a break on his attitude because deep down I’m a softie🙂

I don’t think anyone could have predicted how different this team would look in September or how bad the Rockies record would be. I remember back in March wandering the practice fields at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick full of enthusiasm and optimism.

Recently I wandered around Coors Field the last game of this season full of frustration and confusion. I along with many other Rockies fans have no idea where the Rockies will go from here?

Never in my wildest nightmares did I imagine this would be the worst Rockies season ever.

I’m no baseball genius. I’m just a fan with a cam who really likes to catch baseballs and feel like I’m part of something by sharing my experiences via my blog.

This season I watched the Rox Addict’s MLBlog develop into something special. Mike has a serious passion for baseball and it reflects in his pictures and his writing enthusiasm. Mike scores every game, takes pictures, writes a blog and attends a lot more games than I. Plus Mike’s a Top 50 MLBlogger.

Mike’s fortunate, he has a pretty liberal work schedule, he’ll be the first to admit it🙂.

In addition to the Rox Addict we now have another Rockies MLBLogger. I’ve known Amy for several years and she writes a blog called “The Take from Blake”. Amy hasn’t cracked the top 50 yet but she has interactions with players that make this”Old Skool Blogger” kinda jealous.

It’s fun having other Rockies bloggers around. We’re all tight and hook each other up when we can with our limited resources.

Other than the Purple Row which to me is the “Holy Grail” of Rockies blogs, I can’t think of any Rockies blogs that have been around as long as the Rockpile Rant🙂

FYI The “Rockpile Rant” has been a Top 10 MLBlog for over 4 years now.

I normally take my spring training trip each year by myself.

In March this year Mike and I headed south for a 11 day spring training trip to Phoenix. Mike’s a great road trip buddy. It’s not easy spending 11 days with someone (most of it camping), driving all over Phoenix area at a frantic pace in search of baseball adventures to blog about.

Mike and I managed to keep it cool and gave each other space as we needed it. When the trip was over we both had a great time and were still friends and plan to do it again.

I’d say that’s a pretty good trip.

I’d say this was probably my worst year for autographs. I just don’t have the patience or drive anymore to stand outside as the players drive up or wait against the wall as the guys warm-up.

I enjoy the company, just don’t like the rejection I figure. As far as snagg’n stats this season, I snagged 29 batting practice baseballs in 25 games ending my season 3 baseballs short of 200 for my career.

Yes I’m still chasing my first ever regular season home run ball. All I can say is I have shit luck and maybe next year will be my year?

I managed to snag a pretty cool ground rule double during BP. The Giants #99 bobbled a catch close to the outfield wall, The ball tipped off his glove, bounced and I quickly scooped it up. I then found a young Rockies fan and shared the wealth cause that’s how Rantics roll.

I looked at the Giants Roster but couldn’t figure out who # 99 is?

The Rockies suck with or without uncharismatic “Duece”. I must admit, it’s kinda nice not hearing that annoying Tulo chant 4 or 5 times a game. Plus now we don’t have to watch the Duece blow another clutch opportunity, at least for the rest of this season.

Pitching…Can’t even go there…Just f’kn abysmal.

Dex is the man!!

Below is one of the many reasons I habitate in Colorado.

Mike the Rox Addict and Scott…Cool hang’n with ya tonight.

Rockies lose to the Giants 16-4. That’s six of the last seven games lost.

I’m “D” the Ranter…

I love me some baseball, but lately three words keep ringing in my head.

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